Workers&#39; caps



Dec. 27, 1955 E. BERG 28,085 WORKERS CAPS Filed Oct. 8, 1952 ZZ (D j L3;7642 2 0 w, o 05 INVENTOR.

United States Patent WGRKERS CAPS Elaine Berg, Chicago, Ill. ApplicationOctober 8, 1952, Serial No. 313,683 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-209.5)

The present invention relates to workers caps, and is particularlyconcerned with workers caps of the type adapted to be worn by employeesat soda fountains or by hotel porters or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of improved capsfor workers which are capable of being manufactured with a minimumamount of skilled labor, which are adjustable in size and which areeasily cleaned so that it is not necessary to launder them in the usualway.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedconstruction for caps having adjustable bands, in which the bands aremade of smooth white or colored plastic provided with a removable topthat can be replaced, changed or cleaned.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved cap forworkers which is adapted to be provided with a detachable covering inthe form of a net secured to the band in such manner that the knots ineach end of the net are concealed and the net is firmly secured on thetop of the band without necessity for providing any other anchoringmeans.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved caphaving a plastic band and a net in which the net is also employed forsecuring a sweat band in place.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved capconstruction which is durable, which may be manufactured economically,and the band of which may be used over and over with new nets and newsweat bands so that the cap may be maintained in a practically newcondition for a long period of time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying thisspecification,

Fig. 1 is a view in as a hotel porter, invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in the sweat band;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the type of mesh covering such as a hairnetwhich may be used for covering the top;

Fig. 4 is a developed plan view of the foundation band for the cap;

Fig. 5 is a similar plan view of the sweat band;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 66of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the detailsof construction of the cap and mode of securement of the net coveringand the sweat band on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 7 is a full-sized sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7-7of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig; 8 is a fragmentary enlargement of a portion of the net of Fig. 3,showing the details of construction.

perspective showing a worker, such provided with a cap embodying theperspective of the cap band and 2,728,085 Patented Dec. 27, 1955Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, 10 indicates in its entirety the improvedform of cap which includes a foundation band 11, a net covering 12, asweat band 13 and a securing member 14.

The foundation band 11 is preferably made of a suitable rectangularstrip of flexible, smooth sheet plastic, white in color or provided withany other desired color.

For example, the caps worn by employees at soda fountains are preferablywhite, and the same is true of other employees handling food productswhere sanitation is important.

For hotel porters the plastic is preferably of a darker color, such asdark blue, maroon or black, or any color harmonizing with the uniform.

Various types of plastics may be employed, but they are preferably heatresistive so that they are definitely not inflammable. Among those thatmay be employed are vinylchloride acetate resins, vinyl chloride resins,vinylidene chloride resins, vinyl butyral resins, vinyl alcohol resin,methyl cellulose acetate butyrate.

All of the foregoing have a very slow burning rate, are neutral incharacteristics and resistive to acids and alkaloids, and may beprovided in shiny sheet form of white or colors in such manner that dirtdoes not penetrate, and may be readily washed oil with soap and water.

The plastic band 11 is sufficiently stiff to maintain a substantiallycylindrical shape when its ends are secured together, but sufficientlyflexible and bendable to conform to the usually oval shape of the head.

The band is preferably provided at both of its ends with a plurality ofpairs of apertures 15, 16 these pairs being regularly spaced and beingused to secure a member 14, which passes through pairs of apertures ofboth ends 15, 16, when they are in registry to secure the ends together.

Referring to Fig. 7, one form of securing member 14 comprises asubstantially U-shaped resilient steel member having a pair of legs 17,18 joined by a U-shaped yoke 19, one of the legs 17 being threaded intoapertures 15 and 16, while the other leg 18 clamps and holds thesecuring member in place.

Corrugations 20 in one of the legs 18 aid in holding the securing memberon the foundation band.

By using two series of pairs of apertures 15 and 16, the range of sizeadjustment is doubled, the smallest size being when the innermost holes15 are used with the innermost holes 16, while the largest size isaccomplished by registering the outermost holes 15 with the outermostholes 16.

The edge of the plastic formation band 11 is preferably provided with abinding tape 21 extending fully along the top edge at 22, across eachend at 23, 24, and along the bottom at 25.

This binding tape may comprise a strip of tape having a selvage or itmay consist of a strip of fabric such as plastic impregnated cloth orplastic reenforced cloth, such as leatherette, which is folded over theupper edge 26, Fig. 6, and downward on each side at 27, 28, the roughedges 29 and 30 being folded over and the binding being secured to theplastic 11 by a single line of stitching 31.

The binding tape may be of the same or of contrasting, color, and itprotects the head of the user from sharp edges and protects the plastic11 against ripping or tearing, also giving a distinctive appearance whenit is of a contrasting color.

The foundation band 11 is bent into cylindrical form, as shown in Fig.2, and certain of its apertures 15, 16 are brought into registry andsecured by the securing member 14, as shown in Fig. 7.

The foundation band 11 is preferably provided with diametricallyopposite oval apertures 32, 33, located near the top binding tape 22,and located on the sides of the cap. These register substantially withslits 34, 35., in the sweat band 13, whichhas its slits located adjacentits ends and top edge.

Sweat band 13 may be made of buckram, felt, leather strip or softplastic fabric, and may consist of a single layer or two layers, thelatter providing a substantially U-bendadjacent the forehead and browwhich is softer than a single layer.

The sweat band 13 is of substantially the same width as the foundationband 11 or slightly narrower so that it will be concealed by thefoundation band 11, when properly located inside the foundation band.

The top covering 12 for the cap may be a standard hairnet of the type inwhich a rectangular or circular piece of net material 36 has an elasticor rubber band 37, 38, threaded through alternate meshes of the fabricat each edge from end to end.

The ends of the net 12 may be secured against unravelling and used toform a circular net by tying a single knot 39, 46 at each end, the looseends 41, 42 protruding from the knots.

Fig. 8 shows an enlargement in which the meshes are indicated at 360,the net material at 36, and the separate strands extendinglongitudinally and transversely by the' numbers 36:: and 36b. The rubberstrand is threaded through alternate meshes and is indicated at 38.

Referring to Fig. 6, the two rubber bands 37' and 38 can now be seenprotruding from both. ends of the fragmentary portion of the net.

In order tosecure the net covering 12 on top of the foundation band,each knot 39 or 40 may be drawn through one of the apertures 32, 33, inthe foundation band so that the knot appears on the inside of the baud,where the net is retained by virtue of the fact that each knot 39, 40 islarger than the apertures 32, 33, it having been compressed to pass theaperture.

When a sweat band is employed each knot 39 and 40 is also passed throughthe slits 34 and 35 of the sweat band, respectively, in one or twolayers of sweat band as the case may be; and the slits 34, 35 provide anadditional and more certain mode of securement of the knots inside theband.

The slits must be definitely expanded to pass the knots and will closeagain on the net outside of the knots.

When the sweat band and foundation band are both bent to cylindricalform, I find it sufficient to secure the sweat band in place by merelyusing the two knots and.

end portions of the hairnet, and in this manner the flexible bands 37,38 of the hairnet are disposed outside the foundation band just belowthe binding tape 21, while the knots are concealed inside and under thehairnet.

The rest of the hairnet is then located over the top of the foundationband by stretching the rubber elastic bands 37, 33 and pulling them downover the'top of'the foundation band below the binding tape21.

Two additional holes in the foundation band and sweat band may be usedfor an elastic chin strap, if desired.

In some embodiments of the invention binding tape stitching may secure.sweat. bandQtov plastic band at bottom. This provides a top coveringwhich isusually not visible but which confines the hair of a worker yetleaves it ac.- cessible to air, giving maximum coolness and ventilation.As the net becomes worn or torn, and if the sweat band becomesunsanitary either a new net, sweat band or both may be replaced veryquickly, and the use of the cap may continuev for a very long timewithout replacing the foundation band.

The foundation band may be cleaned by washing it with soap and water orby using kerosene on a cloth and may thus be kept in a clean andshinning condition.

The present workers cap involves a minimum amount of labor as the bandsmay be punched out of strips or flat stock of sheetmaterial andthe-holes may bepunched so that the sewing of the binding tape ispractically the only labor necessary except'the assembly of the parts.

The assembly is so simple that the caps may be packed in a fiatcondition with all of the parts separated and may be assembled onpurchase or upon taking a new cap from stock for use.

The caps may be adjusted to any size of head and may use various sizesof hairnets, as the hairnets may be pulled farther into the slits 34,35, when they appear too large or too loose.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A workers cap for employees of soda fountains or the like comprising,a foundation band of smooth, bendable sheet material whi'chissufhciently stiff to maintain a cylindrical shape when the ends of astrip are secured together, a securing member for adjustably securingthe ends of the foundation band together in overlapping relation, and atop covering for said foundation band comprising a piece of mesh fabrichaving its opposite edges provided with an elastic member threadedthrough alternate meshes, the said elastic members and ends of meshfabric being secured together at each end by a tight knot, saidfoundation band being provided with diametrically oppositely locatedapertures adjacent to but spaced from the top edge of the band, andsmaller than the knots but large enough to pass the knots when the knotsare compressed, the mesh fabric and elastic adjacent each knot extendinginwardly through said apertures and being retained therein by the knotswhich are on the inside of said band, thus anchoring the two ends ofmesh fabric and elastic on the foundation band with the body of the topcovering outside the foundation band, the mesh covering having itselastic members spread and located about the foundation band near thetop edge thereof and below upper edge of the band, the anchorage of theelastic bands in the apertures drawing the elastic down from the.

upper edge of the foundation band and drawing the mesh fabric tightlyover the top of the foundation band to provide an upperventilatingcovering.

A workers cap for employees of soda fountains or the like comprising, afoundation band of smooth, shiny, bendable sheet plastic which issuiiiciently stiff to maintain a cylindrical shape when the ends of astrip are se-' cured together, a securing member for adjustably securingthe ends of the foundation band together in overlapping relation, and atop covering for said foundation band,

comprising a piece of mesh fabric having its opposite edges providedwithan elastic member threaded through alternate meshes, the saidelasticmembers and ends of mesh fabric being secured together at each end by atight knot, said foundation band being provided with diametricallyoppositely located apertures adjacent to but spaced from the top edge ofthe band, and smaller than the knots but large enough to pass the knotswhen the knots are compressed, the mesh fabric and elastic adjacent eachknot extending inwardly through said apertures and being retainedtherein by the knots which are on the inside of said band, thusanchoring the two ends of mesh fabric and elastic on the foundation bandwith the body of the top covering outside the foundation band, the meshcovering having its elastic members spread and located about thefoundation band near the top edge thereof and below anannular' shoulderon the band, the anchorage of the elastic bands in the apertures drawingthe elastic down from, the upper edge of the foundation band and drawingthe mesh fabric tightly over the top of the foundation band to providean upper ventilating covering, the

size and tightness of the mesh fabric covering being adjustable to thesize of the foundation band by drawing in more or less of the meshfabric and elastic through the opposite apertures where it is gripped byfriction, to make the mesh fabric tight on the top of the foundationband.

3. A workers cap for employees of soda fountains or the like comprising,a foundation band of smooth, shiny, bendable sheet plastic which issuificiently stiff to maintain a cylindrical shape when the ends of astrip are secured together, a securing member for adjustably securingthe ends of the foundation band together in overlapping relation, and atop covering for said foundation band comprising a piece of mesh fabrichaving its opposite edges provided with an elastic member threadedthrough alternate meshes, the said elastic members and ends of meshfabric being secured together at each end by a tight knot, saidfoundation band being provided with diametrically oppositely locatedapertures adjacent to but spaced from the top edge of the band, andsmaller than the knots but large enough to pass the knots when the knotsare compressed, the mesh fabric and elastic adjacent each knot extendinginwardly through said apertures and being retained therein by the knotswhich are on the inside of said band, thus anchoring the two ends ofmesh fabric and elastic on the foundation band with the body of the topcovering outside the foundation band, the mesh covering having itselastic members spread and located about the foundation band near thetop edge thereof and below an annular shoulder on the band, theanchorage of the elastic bands in the apertures drawing the elastic downfrom the upper edge of the foundation band and drawing the mesh fabrictightly over the top of the foundation band to provide an upperventilating covering, the said foundation band being provided on itsupper and lower edges and ends with a binding tape of plastic materialbent to substantially U-shape of said edges and ends, forming saidannular shoulder, and secured in place by a single line of stitchingpassing through the foundation band and through both layers of thebinding tape.

4. A workers cap for employees of soda fountains or the like comprising,a foundation band of smooth, shiny, bendable sheet plastic which issufliciently stiff to maintain a cylindrical shape when the ends of astrip are secured together, a securing member for adjustably securingthe ends of the foundation band together in overlapping relation, and atop covering for said foundation band comprising a piece of mesh fabrichaving its opposite edges provided with an elastic member threadedthrough alternate meshes, the said elastic members and ends of meshfabric being secured together at each end by a tight knot, saidfoundation band being provided with diametrically oppositely locatedapertures adjacent to but spaced from the top edge of the band, andsmaller than the knots but large enough to pass the knots when the knotsare compressed, the mesh fabric and elastic adjacent each knot extendinginwardly through said apertures and being retained therein by the knotswhich are on the inside of said band, thus anchoring the two ends ofmesh fabric and elastic on the foundation band with the body of the topcovering outside the foundation band, the mesh covering having itselastic members spread and located about the foundation band near thetop edge thereof and below an annular shoulder on the band, theanchorage of the elastic bands in the apertures drawing the elastic downfrom the upper edge of the foundation band and drawing the mesh fabrictightly over the top of the foundation band to provide an upperventilating covering, and a sweat band located in said foundation bandand engaging the inside surface thereof, the said sweat band beingprovided with slits located at substantially the same points as saidopposite apertures, the knots of mesh fabric being passed through saidslits and the slits being closed about the body of mesh fabric adjacentthe knots to anchor the sweat band in place and assure the securement ofthe mesh fabric.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS847,831 Schlee et a1 Mar. 19, 1907 911,433 Pachner Feb. 2, 19091,194,935 Bell Aug. 15, 1916 1,599,978 Sutton Sept. 14, 1926 1,879,362Lipper Sept. 27, 1932 2,279,435 Berg Apr. 14, 1942 2,286,287 LivingstonJune 16, 1942 2,329,676 Henry Sept. 14, 1943 2,616,092 Berg Nov. 4, 1952

